The Legendary Charlie Daniels Band set to rock Bristol's Food City 500

Bristol Motor Speedway's concrete surface is packed with uneasy riders on race day... But the original "Uneasy Rider" and one of Southern Rock's and Country's biggest legends brings his hard-driving act to "The Last Great Colosseum." The Charlie Daniels Band hits Bristol Motor Speedway on St. Patrick's Day for the Food City 500 pre-race show.

Prior to drivers receiving the command to start their engines March 17, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist delivers his special brand of music, invigorating race fans before the green flag falls on one of NASCAR’s most exciting events.

"Bristol Motor Speedway is all about producing high-octane excitement and Charlie Daniels has been on stage delivering that same level of enjoyment to music fans for years," said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. "It makes perfect sense for two of the world's most recognizable Tennessee-based entities to join forces for the best fans in racing.

"Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway often is difficult to label. Because there is nothing else like the experience, it cannot be pigeon-holed into one particular classification. The music of Charlie Daniels is in the same boat."

True enough. Daniels is a member of Grand Ole Opry, the cathedral to country music, but with Darius Rucker covered Bob Dylan’s "Like a Rolling Stone" and helped out the late Chris LeDoux on his hit "Even Cowboys Like a Little Rock and Roll."

And he is eager to hit the stage in the Tennessee hills.

"I’m very excited to be taking our music to the Bristol Motor Speedway," Daniels said. "I love NASCAR and so do our fans and it should make for a grand old time at a legendary race track. NASCAR and CDB music goes together like turnip greens and cornbread."

But the celebrated musician’s anticipation of being part of a pre-race show with a history of paying tribute to American Armed Services does not stop there.

"I also want to salute BMS for their support of our military and doing their part to say thank you to the men and women who lay their lives on the line for us."

Next year, 2013, marks an anniversary of sorts for the iconic jam-master. Forty years ago he delivered his first hit as an artist – the popular "Uneasy Rider." Ironically, March 1973 also marked the first appearance of a driver at Bristol Motor Speedway, Daniels' buddy Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip finished last in that initial race but went on to a hall-of-fame career which included 12 wins at Bristol.

Special Charlie Daniels ticket packages are available soon. Fans can go to www.bristolmotorspeedway.com for more details or call (423) BRISTOL (274-7865) for more information.